Kip’s Comments - September 2, 2026 — LadagePhotography.com

Observations From A River Rat

When fish catching was not happening this morning I put my rod and reel down and picked up my camera. Outdoor photography worked much better for me as evidenced by the numerous observations I documented. Two interactions were memorable.

#1. As I was moving my canoe through backwater I heard quite a commotion from blue jays. While approaching closer I noticed not only blue jays, but also cardinals and a gray catbird - all very vocal and on alert. It took me some time to find the cause of their concern, but eventually I did. About 10-12 feet up in a tree, hidden among the many berries the birds wanted to feast on, was a long water snake waiting to ambush one of the unsuspecting birds. How did that snake know the birds were feeding on the berries? How did the snake get so high in the tree? How did the birds know the snake was a threat? Even though there were multiple species in the area, all of the birds worked together when a threat was located. Why can’t humans work together, even when we have differences, like the birds demonstrated this morning?

Common Water Snake High in A Tree - Image 1142260

Common Water Snake High in A Tree - Image 1142614

#2. Along one of the shorelines a quick moving bird caught my attention. Its color was a bit subdued, but still it was noticeable. To identify the species of bird I paddled to a downed tree where I intentionally got my canoe stuck. From that spot I was able to remain motionless until the little bird was seen again. The movement that caught my eye was not one, but two prothonotary warblers. It seems late for them to still be here. Maybe these two were just passing through but did not nest here this year.

As I frequently do, I shot more photos while I was out. All images featured today were recorded from my canoe except two. You will figure out which were “land” shots quite quickly.